Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Sigurd Hellesvik — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 06:29:09 GMT

[quote user="Eucaristo"]Does nRF connect SDK(NCS) have a DFU client?[/quote]

Yes. It is called an SMP Client.

We are working on an official client at https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/pull/56934/, but as far as I know, it does not have a finished sample yet.

In the meantime, I got two unofficial samples for SMP Clients at https://github.com/hellesvik-nordic/samples_for_nrf_connect_sdk/tree/v2.2.0/bootloader_samples/client_smp

[quote user="Eucaristo"]would it be possible to perform (FOTA) updates on a Test Unit that is based on the nRF5 SDK?[/quote]

The NCS FOTA procedure is not compatible with the nRF5 SDK FOTA procedure.
So you can not use an SMP Client for nRF5 Fota.

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Eucaristo — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 05:44:24 GMT

Hi,

[quote userid="106736" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/101208/doing-an-fota-via-ble-using-a-nordic-development-kit/433210"]No, we do not have an DFU client in the nRF5 SDK.[/quote]

Does nRF connect SDK(NCS) have a DFU client?

If the NCS does have a DFU client, if we were to port our NDK firmware to the NCS and integrate DFU client functionality into it, would it be possible to perform (FOTA) updates on a Test Unit that is based on the nRF5 SDK?

Regards,
Eucaristo Mendes

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Sigurd Hellesvik — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 13:22:56 GMT

Aha, you need connectivity.hex to run on the dongle along with your other custom dongle code?

The connectivity.hex is automatically built using pc-ble-driver.

See how it connectivity.hex built from https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/pc-ble-driver/blob/master/CMakeLists.txt

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Eucaristo — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:35:59 GMT

Hi,

[quote userid="106736" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/101208/doing-an-fota-via-ble-using-a-nordic-development-kit/433842"]As long as you do not have memory limitations on the raspberry pi, I suggest that you use the raspberry pi to host pc-ble-driver, and then just run ble_connectivity.hex on the dongle.[/quote]

I am already running my custom firmware that i use to connect and communicate to the Test Device. So wouldn't I have to flash the NDK every time i want a FOTA and then flash my own firmware?

I have multiple Devices that i will be using as test Device so it would be impractical for me to flash the NDK every time.

Regards,
Eucaristo Mendes

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Sigurd Hellesvik — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:15:11 GMT

[quote user="Eucaristo"]Whatever the pc-ble-driver plus the ble_connectivity.hex does we want that connectivity hex part to be integrated on our NDK side. Please Suggest how to proceed with this integration.[/quote]

For this you would need to manually implement sending FOTA images in the nRF5 SDK, as explained below.
Then you must decide how you want to transfer the file from the Raspberry Pi to the dongle.

This will be a lot of work.
As long as you do not have memory limitations on the raspberry pi, I suggest that you use the raspberry pi to host pc-ble-driver, and then just run ble_connectivity.hex on the dongle. As far as I can see, this will do the exact same thing as what you are trying to do.
See Connection 3B+ ARMv8 and NRF 52840 Dongle for how to use the pc-ble-driver with a raspberry pi.

Regards;
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Eucaristo — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 05:44:20 GMT

Hi,

Apologies for the Confusion.

[quote userid="106736" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/101208/doing-an-fota-via-ble-using-a-nordic-development-kit/433210"]You want to send the firmware update from one DK (DFU client) to another DK (DFU server), right?[/quote]

No. The Firmware to be sent is stored in Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi is connected to the NDK via SPI (or USB). The Raspberry Pi will control all operations of the NDK, including the Initiating the FOTA process(which is currently on a separate DK Dongle) .

[quote userid="106736" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/101208/doing-an-fota-via-ble-using-a-nordic-development-kit/433710"]ble_connectivity.hex is just a front-end for Bluetooth Low Energy, and does not have any built-in FOTA functionality.
The FOTA is handeled in pc-ble-driver, which is written in python. [/quote]

We want to add the front-end for Bluetooth Low Energy functionality in the NDK, which the Raspberry pi can initiate.

Whatever the pc-ble-driver plus the ble_connectivity.hex does we want that connectivity hex part to be integrated on our NDK side. Please Suggest how to proceed with this integration.

Regards,
Eucaristo Mendes

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Sigurd Hellesvik — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:21:51 GMT

[quote user="Sigurd Hellesvik"]You want to send the firmware update from one DK (DFU client) to another DK (DFU server), right?[/quote]

Can you answer this?

[quote user="Eucaristo"]We are currently using a seperate PCA10059 Dongle with ble_connectivity.hex[/quote]

ble_connectivity.hex is just a front-end for Bluetooth Low Energy, and does not have any built-in FOTA functionality.
The FOTA is handeled in pc-ble-driver, which is written in python.
So the easiest way to do what I think you want would be to implement your own solution, as described

[quote user="Sigurd Hellesvik"]If you want to implement your own, see https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp?topic=%2Fsdk_nrf5_v17.1.0%2Flib_dfu_transport_ble.html&cp=9_1_3_5_2_2_3&anchor=lib_dfu_transport_msc[/quote]

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Eucaristo — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:22:14 GMT

Hi,

We are currently using a seperate PCA10059 Dongle with ble_connectivity.hex that can do an FOTA on our Test Unit. Is it possible to get the Source code of the file so that we can integrate the FOTA service on our NDK.

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Sigurd Hellesvik — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 11:50:36 GMT

You want to send the firmware update from one DK (DFU client) to another DK (DFU server), right?

If so:

No, we do not have an DFU client in the nRF5 SDK.

If you want to implement your own, see https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp?topic=%2Fsdk_nrf5_v17.1.0%2Flib_dfu_transport_ble.html&cp=9_1_3_5_2_2_3&anchor=lib_dfu_transport_msc

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Eucaristo — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:40:26 GMT

Hi,

I am using NRF5 SDK version 15.2.0

Regards,
Eucaristo Mendes

RE: Doing an FOTA via ble using a Nordic Development kit

Sigurd Hellesvik — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:13:00 GMT

Hi,

Do you use the nRF5 SDK or the nRF Connect SDK?
Which version?

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik